Deles appeals to ASEAN ambassadors to back BBL

CEBU, Philippines - The Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process yesterday appealed to ASEAN ambassadors to rally behind the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“Your voices, thrown far and wide, in unison and volume, will help to raise the consciousness of our own Philippine nation to push forward, urging our peoples to be one with the ASEAN and the world in embracing peace with might and passion, breaking the barriers of prejudice and doubt, and building the ramparts of authentic love and community,” said Deles during the opening of the two-day workshop in Cebu attended by ASEAN ambassadors.

Deles said the country now has the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which promises to “conclusively shift the landscape of Mindanao from the bullet to the ballot, from conflict to development, from enslavement to poverty and marginalization to the freedom of democratic choice and self-driven governance and development.”

Deles remained optimistic that the BBL will be passed into law before Congress adjourned on June 12.

Delis further said that the voice of ASEAN has always been important for all generations of Filipinos.

“This is true whether we speak of human progress or human security. ASEAN has been the repository of our most ardent aspirations forged in deep commonalities of culture, identity, and ways of transformation,” she said. — (FREEMAN)